Tongue bender



June 16, 1959 v E. J. cooNEY TONGUE BENDER Filed July 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1959 E. J. cooNY TONGUE BENDER Filed July 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ff//WW United States Patent TONGUE BENDER Edward J. Cooney, East Chicago, Ind., assignor to Inland Steel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 17, 1957, Serial No. 672,433

3 Claims. ('Cl. 153-39) This invention relatesto the manufacture of I and H beams, and particularly to wide ange beams.

The manufacture of I and H beams by rolling results in the leading and tailing ends of the beams having hon'- zontal webs without flanges-these ends are referred to as tongues. After the rolling operation has been completed the tongues are removed by shearing or sawing to finish the beam.

The forward tongue on many beams, particularly those with a thin web, has caused considerable trouble after the beam leaves the last mill stand because it often sags down and catches in the mill table, conveying rolls and wings. The result is that the beam cobbles and is bent out of shape, often with damage to the equipment and always with loss of production and labor.

According to the present invention there are provided apparatus and methods for automatically bending the forward tongue end of a beam into a sled runner-like shape as it emerges from the delivery side of a mill, particularly from the last mill stand, i.e., the finishing mill, so that the tongue will be out of the way and cannot catch in openings and gaps in the mill table conveyor and the like as the beam passes over them.

The invention will be described in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section along the line 1 1 of Fig. 2, of a tongue bender attached to a mill stand of which only the delivery guides are shown;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially in section along line 1 1, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows the tongue of a beam retained in the tongue bender and partially bent upwardly;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. l along the line 4 4;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the tongue bender;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan View of a mill table conveyor; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of Fig. 6 taken at the line 6 6.

In the drawings, the same number in different views refers to the same element or structural member.

With reference to Figures 1 4, there is shown a forward tongue 10 of a beam as it emerges from a mill with the beam web retained in position by top guide 11, which is secured by top guide holder 13, and bo-ttom guide 12, which is secured by bottom guide holder 14. The beginning of the beam flanges are shown on the tongue as 15.

Bracket 16 consisting of two spaced apart elements are fastened to the mill stand such as to the top guide holder 13; the bracket elements however may be fastened wherever considered desirable. Suspended from the bracket 16 is tongue bender 17 having a substantially vertical plate 1S. Fastened near the top of the plate 18 in a horizontal position is tube or pipe 19 which fits between the elements of bracket 16. Bolt 20 goes through the elements of bracket 16 and pipe 19 to provide means for j." .E l

substantially vertical rotation of the tongue bender about the horizontal axis of the bolt. The bolt and axis thereof is generally positioned parallel to the face of the plate.

Projecting outwardly from the bottom of the plate is ange 21 which joins the plate on the mill side in a substantially horizontal position. The flange is positioned so as to be below the normal route of travel of the tongue and web of the beam when the plate 18 is vertical. The flange 21 is generally positioned about 2 inches below where the tongue hits plate 18. Lip 22 projects up from the ange 21 and functions as a backstop in case the tip or end of the tongue begins bending downwardly instead of upwardly and also provides a fulcrum against which the tongue may push during the last phase of the bending cycle.

Sides 23 connect the plate 18Vand flange 21 to prevent sideways slippage and twisting of the tongue. A counterweight is advisably provided at the bottom area of the plate 18 to facilitate rotation of the tongue bender into a vertical position.

When the tongue of a beam is fed out from a mill and through the guides the tongue end comes in contact with and hits plate 1S on the mill stand side as shown in Figs. l and 2. Plate 18 is generally positioned so that the tongue end strikes it 'at its height midpoint. As forward movement of the beam continues the tongue propels the tongue bender upwardly in a vertical are pivoted by bolt 20. The end 24 of the tongue is retained in the pocket 25 of the tongue bender and as continued forward motion of the beam applies pressure the tongue end bends in an upward arc. As the tongue bends and curls upwardly it continues to rotate the tongue bender upwardly until the lattced tongue pushes it out of the way and glides underneath. This takes place when the tongue bender has rotated about The tongue bender rides along on top of the remaining part of the beam which is delivered from the mill. After the entire length of the beam has passed by, the tongue bender rotates to its normal, substantially vertical position by force of gravity.

Because of the upward curl or bend put in the forward tongue, the beam may be moved along the roll line without fear that it will enter a gap and cause a Cobble. Actual commercial operation has proven this to be so. Figs. 6 and 7 show the forward end of a beam rolling over a mill table composed of rollers 60 supported by bearing blocks 61. On each side of the rollers are plate portions 62 having the upper surfaces thereof slightly below the top of the rollers. Between the plate portions are spaces 64 provided for movement of dogs (not shown) which move the beams laterally tothe table to clear it for the next beam. Side guide wall 63 controls sideward movement of the beam but is also interrupted by spaces 64. By bending tongue end 24 upwardly with the bender of this invention it glides over and past spaces 64 without catching therein and forming a cobbled beam and breakage of the table and related equipment.

A modified tongue bender is shown in Fig. 5. This tongue bender has plate 30 from which ange 31 projects in an outward and upward angle, such as 45. The plate Si) may be reinforced by a stiifener bar 32. At the bottom of the rear side of the plate 30 a counterweight 33 is provided to return the tongue bender to vertical position. Pipe 19 is secured to the plate 30 as in Fig. 1. No side plates are on the tongue bender of Fig. 5 for they have been found unnecessary with many beams.

Various changes and modifications of the invention can be made and, to the extent that such variations incorporate the spirit of this invention, they are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What s claimed is:

1. In a mill for rolling structural I and H beams and forming tapered tongues on the forward end thereof, an

attachment at the delivery side of the mill for bending the tongue of said beam upwardly comprising a substantially vertical plate positioned in line with the route traveled by the beam as. it emerges from .the mill, aange CQU- neeted to and projectingyout from the plate on the mill side thereof belOWthe routerof travel of -the beam tongue and web, and Ypivot meansat the upper Vpart ofthe plate to permit vertical rotation yof the tongue bender about a horizontal axis .thelength o f said vertical plate between said flange and said `pivot means being not substantially longer than said tapered tongue.

2. The attachment of claim 1 inwhich side plates are provided connecting the vertical plate and the flange.

3. In a mill which rolls structural I and H beams having onthe leading end of the beam a horizontal, tongue projeetingforwardV as a vcontinuation of the vWeb as the beam comes out of the last mill stand and which tongue lacks sufficient rigidity to resist sagging downwardly and catching in the mill table, conveying rolls or wings while the beam moves ahead: an `attachment at the delivery side of the mill for bending the .tongue end upwardly into a sled runner-like shape so that the tongue Aglides over the mill table, conveying lrolls or wings without snagging even though the tongue sags comprising a substantially vertical plate positioned in line with the route traveled by the beam as it emerges from the mill, means at the upper part of the plate to permit vertial rotation of the plate about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the line of travel of said beam, bending-means at the `bottom end portion of the plate for engaging the end of the tongue, bending it `arcuately upwardly into a sled runner-like shapeas the beam moves ahead in a straight line `and automatically releasing the bent tongue as the plate rotates voutof the line of travel of the beam, yand retaining meansto bar lateral displacement of the beam as it moves ahead and the tongue is bent.

References Cited in the le of this patent FOREIGN yPATENTS 869 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1870 

